Starting this year, it will be illegal to hit any ‘defenseless’ player if the initial force of the contact with a players’ helmet, shoulder or forearm is to the head or neck area. The following players are considered ‘defenseless’ and will be protected: A quarterback in the act of passing, a receiver in the act of making a catch, a kick/punt returner in the act of catching a kick/punt, a runner who is ‘in the grasp’ and who’s forward progress has been stopped, a player on the ground at the end of the play, a QB after a change of possession and a kicker/punter after the ball is kicked. Violations of the rule can result in a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty and potential discipline by the league.

If a receiver has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself, a defensive player is prohibited from launching into him in a way that causes the defensive players’ helmet, facemask, shoulder or forearm to forcibly strike the receiver in the head or neck area. A “launch” is defined as leaving your feet to spring forward and upward into an opponent. Hits such as these will result in a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty and potential discipline by the league. If the receiver has the ball long enough to protect himself or the defender does not launch himself as part of the hit, it is not a foul.

After a valid fair catch signal, the opportunity to catch a kick does not end if the ball if muffed. The player who signaled for the fair catch must have a reasonable opportunity to catch the muffed kick before it hits the ground without interference from the kicking team players.

Each team must have the opportunity to posses the ball once in overtime. However, if the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on their initial possession, the game is over. If the team that wins the coin toss scores a field goal on their initial possession, the game is not over. Their opponent much be given an opportunity to possess the ball. If the score remains tied after both teams have been given the opportunity to posses the ball, the game continues under normal ‘sudden death’ rules. (Postseason only)

The use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures directed at an opponent or the opposing teams’ bench is considered taunting. This is a foul under NFL playing rules and a 15-yard penalty will be assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct.

They can separate the WRs from the balls, just not by hitting them in the head or neck.

bigbucks24

08-06-2010, 10:52 PM

As players get bigger, faster and stronger, don't the rules need to change?

KCrockaholic

08-06-2010, 10:55 PM

I'm gonna take a wild guess and assume that Eric Berry gets more than his 1 career penalty @ Tennessee, in his rookie season.

Not cause he will do anything "wrong" but penalties are going to just be more and more ridiculous and games will end up lasting 4 hours because of stupid penalties that probably don't need to be enforced half the time.

DaneMcCloud

08-06-2010, 10:57 PM

This doesn't suck.

If you're training 300+ days per year and are in tip top shape, this isn't an issue.

It's a GAME. No one should suffer for life because of a game.

ClevelandBronco

08-06-2010, 11:02 PM

All the rules about contact make sense to me. I'm not as sure about the overtime rule. I guess I'd have to see it before I might grow to like it.

This one is hogwash: "The use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures directed at an opponent or the opposing teams’ bench is considered taunting. This is a foul under NFL playing rules and a 15-yard penalty will be assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct."

Insulting language? Come the **** on.

Mr. Kotter

08-06-2010, 11:04 PM

Based on this, sounds like football should only be played by homosexuals...to me.

Maybe that's what the Faders have been doin' for the last decade or two..... :hmmm:

Bugeater

08-06-2010, 11:05 PM

All the rules about contact make sense to me. I'm not as sure about the overtime rule. I guess I'd have to see it before I might grow to like it.

This one is hogwash: "The use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures directed at an opponent or the opposing teams’ bench is considered taunting. This is a foul under NFL playing rules and a 15-yard penalty will be assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct."

Insulting language? Come the **** on.
Fuck you, you fucking cunt.

Ebolapox

08-06-2010, 11:09 PM

I don't really have a problem with this. these guys do have a life after football, it's about time we take some of the risk out of things.

ClevelandBronco

08-06-2010, 11:11 PM

**** you, you ****ing ****.

Mr. Donkeyshit ****ing ****, if you please.

And the league will be in touch regarding the amount of your fine.

Consistent1

08-06-2010, 11:16 PM

I'm gonna take a wild guess and assume that Eric Berry gets more than his 1 career penalty @ Tennessee, in his rookie season.

Not cause he will do anything "wrong" but penalties are going to just be more and more ridiculous and games will end up lasting 4 hours because of stupid penalties that probably don't need to be enforced half the time.

Dude. Are you saying that you want Eric Berry to play dirty? That is kinda what it is when you jump off the ground to hit a guy in the head with your shoulder pads or helmet when you could just keep going through him and knock the fool 5 yards back.

KCrockaholic

08-06-2010, 11:24 PM

Dude. Are you saying that you want Eric Berry to play dirty? That is kinda what it is when you jump off the ground to hit a guy in the head with your shoulder pads or helmet when you could just keep going through him and knock the fool 5 yards back.

No, I'm saying the NFL has stricter rules than the NCAA. Berry only had 1 penalty at Tennessee his entire freakin career.

How many NFL defenders go an entire year only having 1 penalty? Not many starters. I think these new rules will just make it tougher to go penalty-less for an entire season.

RealSNR

08-06-2010, 11:32 PM

a QB after a change of possessionBullshit. So the QB can trip your ball carrier after an interception, but you're not allowed to lay a finger on him?

HotRoute

08-06-2010, 11:33 PM

I still have a problem with the fact that the refs look the other way when certain teams do these things, it's close to ridiculous as to how obvious it has gotten as of late.

KCrockaholic

08-06-2010, 11:36 PM

I still have a problem with the fact that the refs look the other way when certain teams do these things, it's close to ridiculous as to how obvious it has gotten as of late.

Don't even get me started on the bullshit the refs pulled in the NFC Championship game.

Discuss Thrower

08-06-2010, 11:45 PM

My problem with the contact rule is that it gives the ref's one more avenue to affect the outcome of a game, assuming it's a call that cannot be reviewed.

Aries Walker

08-07-2010, 12:06 AM

I'm okay with the new headhunting rules, but coming down on insulting language? What, are the millionaire athletes gonna get their feelings hurt?

Mecca

08-07-2010, 12:07 AM

Look now I don't think you should hit people in the head, the problem is there are big hits that don't involve head shots that will get flagged because they "look bad".

KCrockaholic

08-07-2010, 12:22 AM

Look now I don't think you should hit people in the head, the problem is there are big hits that don't involve head shots that will get flagged because they "look bad".

Some look like they are head shots, when actually it was a shoulder pad. Those are the ones that piss me off that the refs throw a flag for.

Rain Man

08-07-2010, 03:37 AM

After a valid fair catch signal, the opportunity to catch a kick does not end if the ball if muffed. The player who signaled for the fair catch must have a reasonable opportunity to catch the muffed kick before it hits the ground without interference from the kicking team players.

I thought this was already in place, and it's a bad rule. I remember Sproles bouncing a punt up in the air a couple of years ago, and a Chief outfought him for the ball, only to then get called for this penalty. That's ridiculous. If the punt returner doesn't want to get hit, he should catch the ball cleanly. He shouldn't get the opportunity to try again if the ball bounces out of his hands.

Oucho Cinco

08-07-2010, 05:16 AM

Is this part of hope and change?

Football used to be such a simple game.

DBOSHO

08-07-2010, 05:28 AM

goodell is pissing me the fuck off.

these arent kids. theyre grown men who knew the risks of football when they signed their $60 million contracts. jesus christ just let them play

DaFace

08-07-2010, 08:27 AM

I don't get the third one (the muffed punt) being in this article. I'm 90% sure that's been a rule for years.

Red Brooklyn

08-07-2010, 08:33 AM

1. The contact rules are fine. I understand the trepidation, however.

2. New overtime rule sounds sexy. I like it (in theory, at least).

3. How often do we imagine these language rules are reeeeeally going to be enforced?

4. I don't understand the negative connotation surrounding "pussifaction." Don't most of you guys like - nay - love pussy? Frankly, I wish more things were as awesome as pussy. We should be "pussifying" everything!

C-Mac

08-07-2010, 08:56 AM

I don't get the third one (the muffed punt) being in this article. I'm 90% sure that's been a rule for years.

If it hits the ground after the muff, its on, but if it bounces off his pads he now can still try to catch it. Before if it bounched in any way off the returner, it was impact time.

milkman

08-07-2010, 10:46 AM

If it hits the ground after the muff, its on, but if it bounces off his pads he now can still try to catch it. Before if it bounched in any way off the returner, it was impact time.

That is incorrect.

It only last year that the Chiefs lost a recovery, and were penalized for interference on a "muffed" punt that a returner bobbled, was hit after the bobble.

C-Mac

08-07-2010, 01:48 PM

That is incorrect.

It only last year that the Chiefs lost a recovery, and were penalized for interference on a "muffed" punt that a returner bobbled, was hit after the bobble.

I think the penalty was that his "catching space" was intruded on. Do you remember the game?

KCtotheSB

08-07-2010, 02:16 PM

Can't wait for NFL games to reflect Arena Football scores.

I think the "muffed punt" rule is f**kin' bullshit. A "reasonable opportunity"? You HAD a reasonable opportunity to secure the ball before you dicked it up!

JohnnyV13

08-07-2010, 03:18 PM

Obviously, the big concern is concussions.

With all the new evidence coming out about the long term effects of concussions, the NFL has to do something. Otherwise, they'd get raped in a class action suit by former players (and they still might).

Ugly Duck

08-07-2010, 07:16 PM

I still have a problem with the fact that the refs look the other way when certain teams do these things, it's close to ridiculous as to how obvious it has gotten as of late.

I hear ya. I wonder if stuff like "A quarterback in the act of passing, a receiver in the act of making a catch, a runner who is ‘in the grasp’ and who’s forward progress has been stopped, a player on the ground at the end of the play, and a receiver that has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself" will mean the same thing for Indy, Denver & NE as it will for Oakland, KC & Baltimore.

BigMeatballDave

08-08-2010, 12:39 AM

Awesome. Goodell should go ahead and change his tampon...

BigMeatballDave

08-08-2010, 12:47 AM

4. I don't understand the negative connotation surrounding "pussifaction." Don't most of you guys like - nay - love pussy? Frankly, I wish more things were as awesome as pussy. We should be "pussifying" everything!LMAO Pussy = Wimp. Wuss. Coward. NOT Vagina, in this case.

Dayze

08-08-2010, 05:26 PM

if i'm a defender, I'm launchign myself directly into their knees.

Lonewolf Ed

08-08-2010, 05:52 PM

1. The contact rules are fine. I understand the trepidation, however.

2. New overtime rule sounds sexy. I like it (in theory, at least).

3. How often do we imagine these language rules are reeeeeally going to be enforced?

4. I don't understand the negative connotation surrounding "pussifaction." Don't most of you guys like - nay - love pussy? Frankly, I wish more things were as awesome as pussy. We should be "pussifying" everything!

With the language rule, it only has to happen once to the team you are rooting for before it will be an outrageous, stupid rule. Think if it happens to the Chiefs after they stop Denver on 4th and 2, let's say... and someone disses one of the Denver linemen for trying to take out his knees. Out comes a yellow flag, Denver is awarded a first down, and the crowd goes wild...

How are you supposed to get in a guy's head and make him sloppy now? Hey, you! Yeah, you! Your mama is... a very fine human being and I admire and respect her immensely! Carry on.

Micjones

08-08-2010, 06:38 PM

Why should a returnman get another opportunity to secure a ball he muffed initially?
That's ridiculous.

Fielding the punt in the first place is an option.
If you opt to catch it...it's your job to bring it in clean.

OnTheWarpath15

08-08-2010, 07:47 PM

Why should a returnman get another opportunity to secure a ball he muffed initially?
That's ridiculous.

Fielding the punt in the first place is an option.
If you opt to catch it...it's your job to bring it in clean.

Couldn't agree more.

Hell, by the time my nephews are my age, the contact will be completely removed from the game.

Can't have anyone getting hurt.

milkman

08-08-2010, 07:50 PM

Here's a new rule I wasn't aware of.

When a ball carrier loses his helmet, the play will be whistled dead, and the ball spotted at the spot he lost his helmet.

Ugly Duck

08-08-2010, 07:57 PM

Here's a new rule I wasn't aware of.

When a ball carrier loses his helmut, the play will be whistled dead, and the ball spotted at the spot he lost his helmut.So if you can't tackle a guy, just yank his helmet off....

milkman

08-08-2010, 08:00 PM

So if you can't tackle a guy, just yank his helmet off....

Sounds about right.

Dayze

08-08-2010, 10:36 PM

another step in making the NFL the most lame sport on TV (ok, now really....that's reserved for baseball).

JFC....how/where can defenders hit opposing players. I can 'barely' understand the QB rulles (ie...never touch them), but JFC how is a defender supposed to 'defend'.

receivers gotta make that call - "do I want to catch this pass".

If i'm a defender I'm nailing every offensive player in the knees. Only a matter of tiem before the defenders can only tackle the equivalent of a 'strikezone'.

...ratcheting up the reason for people to watch something other than NFL. JFC>

DaFace

08-08-2010, 10:46 PM

So if you can't tackle a guy, just yank his helmet off....

Well, provided you don't mind the associated 15-yard penalty.

KCrockaholic

08-08-2010, 10:50 PM

another step in making the NFL the most lame sport on TV (ok, now really....that's reserved for baseball).

JFC....how/where can defenders hit opposing players. I can 'barely' understand the QB rulles (ie...never touch them), but JFC how is a defender supposed to 'defend'.

receivers gotta make that call - "do I want to catch this pass".

If i'm a defender I'm nailing every offensive player in the knees. Only a matter of tiem before the defenders can only tackle the equivalent of a 'strikezone'.

...ratcheting up the reason for people to watch something other than NFL. JFC>

It will be a cold day in hell before the NFL is the most lame sport on TV. It will always be the best sport on TV until somebody comes up with a sport that has football, baseball, and basketball all in one.

Ugly Duck

08-08-2010, 11:15 PM

I can 'barely' understand the QB rules

I'm having trouble with this section: If the receiver has the ball long enough to protect himself or the defender does not launch himself as part of the hit, it is not a foul.

Looks like a defender can never launch at a receiver - I guess they now have to run through or wrap up.